Just 4 of 11 state parks targeted for closing will remain open

Seven state parks will still close next weekend, even though Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the General Assembly have approved money to keep them open, the Blagojevich administration said Friday.

Staff reports

Seven state parks will still close next weekend, even though Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the General Assembly have approved money to keep them open, the Blagojevich administration said Friday.
The governor originally targeted 11 state parks to close Nov. 30. Lawmakers approved $230 million in new spending to prevent those park closings and a variety of other cuts, and Blagojevich approved most of that restored spending Thursday.
But Blagojevich spokeswoman Katie Ridgway said Friday that only four of those 11 state parks will remain open: Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park in Sheffield, Channahon Parkway State Park in Channahon, Gebhard Woods State Park in Morris and Kickapoo State Park in Oakwood.
Those parks were spared because they’re in each of the three Department of Natural Resources regions affected by closures, three are connected to trails, and Kickapoo offers several forms of recreation, Ridgway said.
A spokesman for the union representing state employees at the parks said layoffs should stop and all the parks should be kept open because money clearly was set aside for that reason.
“The sole purpose of these funds is to prevent the layoffs and closures,” said Anders Lindall of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.
But the Blagojevich administration says it’s not that simple.
Even though $2.1 million was set aside by the legislature to keep all the parks open, poor economic conditions and lack of available money means the other seven must be shuttered, Ridgway said, citing shortfalls in other DNR funds for parks that are forcing the administration to go ahead with closings.
“It’s just understanding the larger picture of a $2 billion (overall budget) deficit and still needing to find the places where we can make reductions,” Ridgway said.
Details for how the parks will be closed and workers affected are still being worked out, she said.
Other parts of state government were grappling with the effects of Blagojevich’s budget action Thursday.
Layoffs were rescinded for state child-care workers, but human-services workers will still be let go Nov. 30. Thirteen state historic sites also will close that day, including the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield.
Substance abuse treatment centers throughout Illinois celebrated the restoration of $55 million in state funding, but with some caution.
Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, said centers are thankful after having to lay off workers and cut services since losing funding in July.
But it will take time to rehire workers and get the system back up to full speed, Moscato Howe said, and some concern remains about future cuts.
“It’s a good day for substance abuse treatment in Illinois,” Moscato Howe said. “We’ve still got our work cut out for us.”
Blagojevich stung his fellow constitutional officers by again cutting tens of millions of dollars of money for their offices. They’ve all used layoffs, furlough days, hiring freezes and other moves so far.
Ridgway said the governor had to cut those expenses.
“We needed to focus on what the core services were,” she said.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office called Blagojevich’s veto of restored money for its operations “petty politics” because the targeted funding is generated through litigation from the office and can only be used there.
“His explanation for the veto is false,” Madigan chief of staff Ann Spillane said in a written statement.
Secretary of State Jesse White did not expect the money for his office to be rejected and would need to take more action if further cuts are made, spokesman Dave Druker said.

Staff writer Doug Finke contributed to this report. Ryan Keith can be reached at (217) 788-1518.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.